Bathing-machine.



PATBNTED- MAP.. 24; '1903.

H. THOMPSON.

BATHING MACHINE. APLIcATIoN FILED JUNE 27, 1902.

No MODEL.

Winesses.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

HENRY THOMPSON, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

BATHlNe-.M'ACHINE-- SPECIFICATION forming- Ia't-or Lettrjs Patent No'. lreagire',traten March 24, 1903.

- Application tuta Jute 27,1902.

.To all whom, it may concern/ Be it known that VLHENRY THOMPSON, a subject of theKing of GreatBrit'ain,residing at Toronto, in the county ofY'ork, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bathing- Maf chines, of'which the following is a specica-y tion.

My invention relates to improvements in bathing-machines; and the object of the invention is to provide a machine which shall obviate the necessity of bathers overexerting themselves by swimming and yet derive all the possible pleasure from immersion in comparatively deep water and whereby children and those ignorant of the art of swimming may gain confidence and be taught without suering any inconvenience; and'it consists,

essentially, of a circular platform resting on a iioat or iioats, a mast stepped in the center thereof, a gear and ring surrounding the mast and suspended from a cap'surmounting the inast, a plurality of beams or poles project` ing radially from the ring and supported by suitable stays from the cap, a plurality of eX- tension-rods designed toV slide in and out on the aforesaid poles or beams, a body-strap suspendedby rope or wire from the outer end of the extension-rods, a circularly-arranged series of dressing-rooms inclosing an apartment in the center of the platform, ropes and-pulleys designed to control the sliding of the rods, and suitable gear mechanism and motive power, the various parts being constructed in detail as hereinafter more particularly described.

Figure l is a sectional perspective view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the rods, partly broken away. Fig. 8 is a view of a portion of the mast, showing the means for pulling all the extension-rods to their inner position.

Like characters of reference indicate correspending parts'in each figure.

a is a circular platform, and Z) is a float supporting the same in the water. The float b may be made in any suitable form-that is, in the shape of an ordinary scow or several floats, as may be most desirable, to support 5o the weight thercabove.-

c is a mast stepped in the center of the platserin No. 113,489. (no man.)

form aland 'having' a pivotal point at the top thereof. l 1 d is a cap surmounting the mast c and designed to turn on the pivotal point at the top oron equivalent bearings.

ourelykeyed tofthe top of the shaft t', which is rotated through the turning of the bevel- 71: is a coacting" bevel-gear which is turned by the revolving of the shaft l, which is operated by any suitable power. l

m Vrepresents `poles or beams 'projecting radially from the ring e and'designed to be carried therewith in the rotation of the said ring.l

n represents suspension-straps over the poles ymffrom the cap d. l

o represents extension-rods, and p represents pulley-hangers lixedly attached -to the inner ends of the rods o and designed to slide along the poles m by means of the rollers q.

r represents pulley-hangers firmly secured to the outer ends of the poles m and designed to allow the extension-rods o to slide there through between the rollers s.

t represents breast-straps swivelly hanging from the ends of the ropes u, which depend from the springs tu The springs o are attached to the ends of the extension-rods o.

fw represents pulleys supported from the hangers r and having double grooves.

represents ropes attached to the outer ends of the extension-rods o and extending inwardly over the pulleys w.

y represents ropes attached to the inner ends of the extension-rods o`andextending outwardly over the pulleys w, so that apull on any one end of the ropes mandy will alter the position of an extension-rod, as more fully explained hereinafter.

z represents ropes attached to the inner ends of the extension-rods 0 and passing over suitable pulleys 2, hanging from the poles m,

reo

are attached to the ring 3, surrounding the mast c.

4 represents hooks grappling the ring 3 diametrically opposite one to the other.

5 is a rope fixed to the shaft or drum 6, operated by the crank 7. The rope 5 spreads in the two ends 8 and 9, which are attached to the hooks 4.

It will be thus seen that the winding up of the ropes 5 on the drum (5 will pull the ring 3 down the mast, simultaneously drawing in all the extension-rods o together to their inner position.

l0 represents dressing-rooms in a circularly-arranged series surrounding the mastc and leaving the apartment l2 in the middle of the platform for the operating of the mechanism and storing of different articles.

l1 represents the doors, which lead into the various dressing-rooms, one of which shall serve as a passage to the middle apartment.

Having described the various parts involved in my invention, I shall now more clearly explain the utility thereof in the operation.

The machine constructed as explained in the foregoing is floated in a suitable bay, lagoon, or river and anchored by corner-posts or in any manner which shall be found most l desirable to retain the lmachine in a fairly steady position while in operation. The extension-rods are all in their inner position. Consequently the ring 3 is held down and preferably locked in that position until it is desired to use the machine. In this position the outer ends of the beams m and rods o will be substantially iiush, and the pulley-han gers p will be toward the inner ends of the poles m, while the pulley-hanger r will always remain in the same position. -When desiring to use the machine, the rope on the drum (3 is slackened and allowed to hang loose, so that the ring 3 may be pulled up the mast at the slightest jerk. The bathers after having disrobed in the dressing rooms and donned bathing-suits have the breast-straps buckled around them under the arms and around the chest, and this strap is then hooked onto the ropes u, and they are then dropped into the water, and by pulling the end of a rope y a rod o is drawn out from its inner position, and at the same time a bather is sent several feet clear of the platform. This is done in every instance until all the extension-rods have bathers depending therefrom. The machine is then set in motion by starting the motive power, and through the gearing, as hereinbefore explained, the ring e is rotated around the mast, carrying with it in its rotation the radial poles m, and as these poles support the rods o the bathers are carried around the platform while immersed for the most part in the water.

It must be understood that while I describe the particular construction for the slide of the poles of the extension-rods by means of pulley-hangers other ways may be adoptedsuch as telescoping, rolling them ont between v two parallel beams, and, infact, many other constructions which would be equivalent to that illustrated and described herein.

The advantages of this machine are manifold for the bathers, as many desirous of bathing do not wish the exertion of swimming and yet want to be in the deep Water where they can get a thorough immersion without touching the bottom, and, besides, the pleasure of slowly circulating around the platform cannot be overestimated, especially for children who are always desirous of this form of amusement.

The principle of the merry-go-round mechanism is practically adopted in my device for the operation thereof, and I do not desire to claim any novelty as regards the gearing or the general mechanism therein for the turning of the radial rods; but the remainder of the construction is, as far as I am aware, en l tirely novel.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a bathing-machine, the combination with a doat or iioats having a circular platform resting thereon, of a mast stepped in the center thereof, a cap rotatably carried by the mast, a gear and ring surrounding the mast intermediate of its height, and suspended from the cap by rigid rods, a pole o1- beam projecting from the ring beyond the edge of the platform and supported from the afore said cap, and suitable mechanism for rotating the ring around the mast, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a bathing-machine, the combination with a suitable float or floats having a circular platform resting thereon, of a mast stepped in the center thereof, a cap rotatably carried by the mast, a gear and ring surrounding the mastintermediateofits height,and suspended from the cap by rigid rods, a plurality of poles or beams projecting radially from the ring and beyond the edge of the platform, a depending rope from the outer end of each of the radial rods, and suitable mechanism designed to rotate the gear and ring around the mast, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a bathing-machine, the combination with a float or iioats, having a circular platform resting thereon, of a mast stepped in the center thereof, a cap rotatably carried by the mast, a gear and ring surrounding the mast intermediate of its height rigidly suspended from the cap, a plurality of poles or beams projecting radially from the ring and supported from the cap, a plurality of extension-rods designed to slide in and out on the poles or beams, a depending rope from the outer end thereof, and suitable mechanism for rotating the ring around the mast, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a bathing-machine, the combination with a float or floats having a circular platform resting thereon, of' a mast stepped in the center thereof, a cap rotatably carried by said mast, a ring and gear surrounding the mast intermediate of its height and suspended by IIO rigid rods from the cap, a plurality or radial poles or beams projecting from the ring and supported from the cap, a plurality of extension-rods sliding in suitable hangers from the 5 poles or beams, a` depending rope from the outer end of the extension-rods, having a breast-strap swivelly attached to the lower end of the extension-rods, and suitable mechanism for rotating the ring around the mast, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a bathing-machine, the combination with a float or oats having a circular platform resting thereon, of a mast stepped inthe center thereof surmounted by a cap, a ring and gear rigidly suspended from the cap intermediate of the height of the mast, a plurality of radial poles or beams projecting radially from the ring and supported from the cap, a plurality of extension-rods having a limited sliding movement along the poles or beams, a suitable spring at the outer end Vof each extension-rod, a rope depending from each spring, a breast-strap swivelly attached to the depending rope, and suitable mechanism for rotating the ring around the mast, as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a bathing-machine, the combination with a oat or floats having a circular platform resting thereon, of a mast stepped in the center thereof, a cap rotatably carried by said mast, a gear and ring surrounding the mast intermediate of its height and rigidly suspended from the cap, a plurality of poles or beams projecting radiallyfrom the ring and supported from the cap, a plurality of exten- Y sion-rods having a pulley-hanger xedly attached at their inner end and sliding through the pulley-hanger txedly attached to the outer ends of the poles or beams, a double-groove pulley journaled in a lower extension by the pulley-hanger attached to the pole or beam, a rope attached to the inner end ot' the extension-rod and passing over a double-groove pulley and a rope attached to the outer end of the extension-rod and passing over the double-groove rpulley in the opposite direction, and suitable mechanism for rotating the ring around the mast, as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a bathing-machine, the combination with a oat or floats having a circular platform resting thereon, and a mast stepped inV the center thereof, a cap rotatably carried by said mast, and a ring and gear surrounding the mast intermediate of its height, and rigidly suspended from the cap, a plurality of extension rods or poles projecting radially from the ring and a train of gearing from motive power to the aforesaid gear, as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a bathing-machine, the combination with a oat or oatshaving a circular platform resting thereon, a mast stepped in the center thereof, a cap rotatably carried by said mast, a gear and ring surrounding the mast intermediate of its height, rigidly suspended from the cap, of a plurality of extension-rods projecting radially from the ring surround-- ing the mast beneath the Aaforesaid ring, a

.rope attached to each of the extension-rods,

and to the lower ring, and means for drawing the said lower ring downwardly on the mast, as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, a mast, a ring encircling the same,- a pole or beam projecting radially from the ring, an extension-rod designed to slide in-A wardly and outwardly and be supported by the pole or beam, a depending rope from the outer end of the extension-rod suitably arranged at its lower end, means'for .controlling the movement of the extension-rod, and a circular platform resting on suitable oats and designed to have the mast stepped in the center thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

l0. In a device of the class described, a rope having a breast-strap swivelly attached to its lower end and at its upper end attached to a spiral spring, a radial rod designed to hold the upper end of the spring, a circular platform resting on a float, a mast stepped in the center thereof, a ring intermediate of the height of the mast having a main rod projecting radially therefrom, means for staying the said rod, and suitable mechanism for rotating the ring around the mast, as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a circular platform resting on a suitable float or floats, a mast stepped in the center thereof, a rotatable cap, a ring rigidly suspended from the cap and surrounding the mast intermediate of its height, a plurality ofV poles or beams projecting radially from the ring, a plurality of slidable rods designed lto lengthen the aforesaid poles or beams, a rope depending from the extreme outward end of the rod and having a supporting arrangement swivelly attached to its lower end, and suit able mechanism for rotating the ring around the mast, as and for theipurpose specified.

l2. In a device of the class described, a oat, a horizontal extensible arm supported by said oat at its inner end, and means carried by the float forcausing the outer end of said arm to swing around the float, substantially as described.

13. In a device of the class described, a float, a mast carried thereby, an extensible arm extending horizontally from said mast, means carried by the float for swinging said arm, and means also carried by the iioat for extending and retracting said arm, substantially as described. Y

Signed at Montreal, in the district of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, this 31st day of May, 1902.

HENRY THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

LLOYD BLAoKMoRE, ROBERT TROTTER.

roo 

